DNA, RNA, Chromosomes, and Genes

Genetic Mutations

How often is DNA damaged in various organisms?

Depending on the animal or plant, DNA can be damaged, causing mutations; in particular, the rate of mutation can vary according to different genes in the various organisms. For example, considering how many cells are in the human body and how often it occurs, DNA replication is fairly accurate. And in bacteria, spontaneous damage to DNA is low, occurring at the rate of one to one hundred mutations per ten billion cells.